His Unveiled Passion

Tessa received a call from Marissa the day before Marissa's birthday.

She had just finished lunch when she answered the call.

"Hey, Tessa. Remember to come early tomorrow afternoon," Marissa said.

Tessa asked curiously, "Isn't your birthday bash being held in the evening?"

"Yes, the party's going to start in the evening, but the cruise ship will set sail at

noon. We'll be spending two days at sea," Marissa explained.

"Alright, I'll be there," Tessa replied.

The weather was beautiful and sunny the next day.

Tessa had changed into a blue halter-neck dress she had bought at the mall. She

had even applied some light makeup and clipped her hair loosely at the back of

her head with a hairpin.

She didn't bother going to a stylist for her outfit or putting on a full face of makeup.

After all, it was Marissa's birthday today. Tessa wasn't about to steal the spotlight

from the birthday girl.

Stephen was patiently waiting for her nearby.

Tessa packed a small suitcase, filling it with a change of clothes and some daily

necessities.

Once she was done, Stephen wrapped his arms around her before leading her

out of the villa.

A black Cullinan was waiting for them at the door.

Stephen's assistant, Samson, was their driver for the day. So, he drove them to

the dock.

The sky was a clear shade of azure that seemed to lift spirits with its bright color.

The moist ocean breeze blew gently in their faces, carrying with it a refreshing

scent.

Dozens of white sailboats and yachts were docked alongside the harbor. A large

white cruise ship stood among them. It had a sleek yet elegant design.

The cruise ship was massive compared to the other boats in the area, making it

seem like a floating palace at sea.

This was the ship Marissa was using for her birthday party.

A red carpet was stretched all the way down to the ship's boarding entrance.

Uniformed ushers had sweet smiles on their faces as they greeted Tessa and

Stephen.

Crew members in white gloves carried Tessa's luggage for her.

She boarded the ship via the gangway and promptly ran into Marissa after

walking a short distance.

Marissa looked absolutely stunning today. It was obvious that she was dressed to

impress.

She had on a shimmering

mermaid-style gown in various

shades of blue and purple. The hem

of the gown swayed gently with

each step she took, making it seem

as though she was wearing a dress

made out of a lake dyed in shades of

dawn. It made her look gentle yet

regal.

There was a brilliant blue diamond necklace around her neck. She even had on

matching earrings and a bracelet that complemented her gown.

"Tessa, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you," Marissa said with a bright

smile.

Her smile deepened when her gaze landed on Stephen, who was standing next to

Tessa. It was obvious that she was in a fantastic mood.

Stephen had really come to attend her birthday party. This was the first time he

had ever deigned to attend a party she threw.

Tessa didn't miss the subtle shift in Marissa's expression.

So, she smiled and said in jest, "Were you really waiting for me, or were you

waiting for him instead?"

Marissa fluttered her lashes playfully and responded, "Can't I wait for both?"

"Happy birthday, Marissa. Here's your gift," Tessa said as she handed the present

to Marissa.

Marissa accepted it with a grin and exclaimed dramatically, "My, my. A gift for me?

You shouldn't have. You're the best!"

Meanwhile, Tessa spotted a large

table off to the side and saw that it

was practically filled with gifts. In

fact, it was a veritable mountain of

gift boxes and bags.

There was even a pair of staff members registering the names of the guests and

the gifts they had brought.

As everyone else's gifts were recorded and placed on that very table, it was no

wonder that it was already stacked so high.

Yet, Marissa had come to personally accept Tessa's gift.

"I've invited a great deal of people

today. Some of them are my friends,

some are just mutuals. You don't

mind, do you?" Marissa asked as

she led Tessa inside the ship.noveldrama

"Not at all. The more, the merrier. It's your birthday, after all," Tessa said.

Tessa and Marissa walked side by side while Stephen followed closely behind.